Introduction

Globalization has made it easier for black markets to thrive

Globalization is the expansion of international markets among both suppliers and consumers. This is a phenomenon that has exponentially increased alongside technological advancement throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This expansion can certainly be beneficial for the success of licit markets as international relations strengthen across a global market; however, globalization also provides new sources of labor and consumers for black markets to misuse and therefore strengthen as well. Globalization usually corresponds with a stark political and/or economic liberalization that presents a duration of transitional turmoil, which also makes populations more vulnerable to participating in black market activity.

Brendan Lacey’s “The Notorious Cocaine Trade” explores how the cocaine market in the 1970s was able to thrive. While he focuses on aspects of the black market that go beyond the individuals involved, the expansion of international markets is one of the main factors in how the market enjoyed great success. The Medellín Cartel was able to use globalization in order to enhance its business processes. The elevated international influence that black markets utilized, along with other determinants, led to lucrative profits.

Ava Hartman’s essay titled “The Pangolin Report” explores how the pangolin received its nickname as the worlds most trafficked animal. Pangolin trafficking used to only be specific to Asia, where the demand is the highest. Over time, pangolins became endangered in Asia as the supply decreased dramatically. Without globalization, this particular black market would not have been able to survive. However the increased economic ties between Asia and Africa allowed for pangolin trafficking to thrive as more small scale traders, smugglers, and pangolins entered the playing field.

Grace Dollia’s informational report titled “Empty Promises: Albania’s Political Transitions Sparked Involvement in Transnational Drug Trades” illuminates how the country’s first Democratic administration in the 1990’s failed to prepare the nation during a transitional period from previous harsh communist regime. Since the Democratic Administration was not equipped to lead the country and guide citizens as economic policies became more liberalized, people were left in vulnerable positions. Additionally, for the first time in decades, Albania was able to trade at an international scale. Both of these increased relationships with other nations probed black market and drug activity.

Gaps in licit markets create unmet demand that leads to black market activity

Due to regulation and unmet demand in licit markets, black markets thrive. Moreover, licit and illicit markets perpetuate one another, growing concurrently. As a result, the consequences of black market activities are oftentimes more significant than the black market transaction itself.

Leah Roebuck’s “The Real Life Dallas Buyers Club” explores the market for unapproved AIDS treatments in 1980s Dallas, Texas as portrayed in the film “Dallas Buyers Club.” When the legal market provided very limited options, all at a hefty price tag, to treat the illness legally, patients turned to the black market. They did so not out of a desire to make a profit, but out of desperation to live.

There have always been long waiting lists for altruistic organ donations all over the world, prompting huge unmet demand for these lifesaving transplant procedures. Therefore, the large gap in legal organ transactions creates a fertile market for illegal organ trafficking. Carson Billingsley’s reviews Leon Lee’s film Human Harvest. Billingsley’s essay, “Leon Lee’s Human Harvest Impactfully and Impressively Exposes China’s State-Sponsored Organ Trafficking Market” finds the film to be an accurate portrayal of how the powerful, greedy Chinese government takes advantage of patient desperation and fuels this black market with harrowing origins.

Georgia Tann, the protagonist of Anna Hsiao’s “The Black Market Behind Adoption in Modern America,” was nationally lauded in the 1920s for her efforts in undoing the stigmatization against adoption. At the same time, she was running one of the most prolific child-trafficking rings in the United States; stealing children and selling them to the highest bidder. Virtually inventing modern American adoption, Tann popularized, commercialized, and corrupted it right under the watchful eyes of the public.

Mia Silverman’s “A Day in the Life with Cigarettes” focuses on the cigarette black market in Greece. As the Greek government tries to decrease the number of adults in the country addicted to tobacco by raising federal taxes, citizens turn towards the black market to get their fix. With the exhibition of multiple perspectives throughout, readers will begin to understand the multifaceted problem that the illicit trade of cigarettes brings to Greece.

Misha Rekhter’s essay “Kiki Camarena, The Guadalajara Cartel, and the Start of an International Drug War” analyzes the impact of Camarena and human behavior on what many call America’s longest running war. American’s desire for illegal narcotics allowed the Guadalajara cartel to flourish. The corruption within the Mexican government meant the cartel could buy power and protection. It functioned as if above the law, essentially killing or buying off anyone that was a problem. After Kiki Camarena’s death, the DEA was revamped to go after cartels, but despite this improvement, various cartels continue to thrive in Mexico to this day.

Human behavior makes people vulnerable to being pulled into black market transactions

Despite people’s best interests to do what is right, humans are innately selfish. This often places them in an unstoppable pursuit of power and forces them to take action upon these inner desires. Coercion and bribery are common forms of manipulation and people’s circumstances can result in them falling victim to these tactics. Furthermore, people are often so entrenched in their own pattern of thought that they are inclined to take action first and think later, making them more vulnerable to becoming a part of illicit market activity.

Madelyn Blake’s “Descent to the Red Lights” delves into Thailand’s sex trafficking system and the wide variety of individuals involved in this market. This short story illustrates the trafficking operation from the manipulation behind the initial recruitment process to the harrowing settings that young girls often resultantly face. The piece brings to light the inescapable realities some girls find themselves trapped in against their will.

Makynsie Bancroft’s “Corruption, Laundering, and Influence: A Mexican Drug Cartel’s Recipe for Success” highlights two opposing routes by which individuals and institutions become involved in black market activity: manipulation and greed. The essay analyzes how Mexican drug cartels use manipulative tactics to force the involvement of vulnerable Mexican citizens. This contrasts with American institutions that ignore moral principle and choose to become involved, enticed solely by the large profits.

Isha Shinde’s “Bollywood’s connection with the Mafia” depicts the two-way connection between Bollywood the underworld, focusing in particular on the role of Haji Mastan. This essays highlights the factors that contributed to Haji Mastan’s rise in taking over Bollywood: the vulnerability of Bollywood, political corruption and economic instability in India. Bringing in the unlikely connections Bollywood figures have with the Bollywood craze in India, this essays displays how Bollywood is not as glamorous as it may seem on the inside.

In “An Unrelenting Journalist in the Face of Authority”, Clay Keiser explores the Russian journalist Alexei Navalny and his fight against Russian corruption. Russian political culture is marked by authoritarianism  and criminal-governmental ties. As a strong figure against the current Russian administration, Navalny continually faces assassination attempts, arrest, and public embarrassment. Though, he maintains he posture against the government. Keiser exposes how Navalny lets his passions sometimes overrule his temper in the pursuit of transparency.

Jason Wang’s “Elephants and Terrorism: How misinformation saved the elephants” focuses on how international spotlight on a flawed investigation into the link between illegal elephant ivory and an East African terrorist organization bolstered elephant conservation efforts and policy change. This paper emphasizes the world’s susceptibility towards eye-catching stories about the black market, oftentimes leading to the disregard of the more mundane, yet more powerful, forces that prop up black market organizations. Unfortunately, the resulting impact is a narrow focus on black market policy, and the illicit market organization sustains very little damage. Though the Elephant Action League may emerge as a hero, illicit market activity will continue through other avenues.